Lake Hulun

Lake Hulun, also known as Hulun Pool, Dalai Lake, Dalai Nor, means 'a lake like the sea' in Mongolian. Historically, it has been called Dazao, Julunbo, Kuolian Haizi, Hutuze, Xuanmo Pool, Kuleng Lake, etc. Lake Hulun belongs to the lake basin of the Erguna River, located between the New Barag Right Banner, New Barag Left Banner, and Jalainur District in the western part of the Hulun Buir grassland in Inner Mongolia. It is an irregular oblong shape, with the long axis from southwest to northeast. The lake is 93 kilometers long, with a maximum width of 41 kilometers, an average width of 32 kilometers, a circumference of 447 kilometers, a total area of 2,315 square kilometers, a maximum depth of 8 meters, an average depth of 5.7 meters, and a storage capacity of 13.85 billion cubic meters. It is the largest lake in Inner Mongolia. The surface water system of Lake Hulun consists of Lake Hulun, Halaha River, Beier Lake, Wuerxun River, Kerulen River, Xinkai River, and the Dalan-Ero River that connects Lake Hulun with the Erguna River. The total basin area (domestic part) is 37,214 square kilometers. The Kerulen River and Wuerxun River are the main supply rivers, while the Xinkai River and Dalan-Ero River are the main regulating rivers. The Lake Hulun area is the main birthplace of many nomadic nations in the north, such as the Donghu, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Shiwei, Huihu, Tujue, Khitan, Jurchen, Mongols, and other ethnic groups that once thrived here. Located in the hinterland of the Hulun Buir grassland, Lake Hulun is known as the 'Pearl of the Grassland' and the 'Kidney of the Grassland.' It holds a special position in regional ecological and environmental protection, playing a very important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the Hulun Buir grassland and its rich animal and plant resources. Lake Hulun and its surrounding water system were listed in the Ramsar Convention's international important wetlands directory in January 2002, and in November 2002, it was approved to join the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.